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Moog Music announces Moog Messenger

Moog Music™ has unveiled the Moog Messenger™, a compact yet powerful monophonic analog synthesizer designed to deliver the iconic Moog sound to a new generation of musicians. Officially announced today and available beginning early summer, Messenger blends timeless analog warmth with innovative functionality, like dynamic wavefolding, a next-generation ladder filter with resonance bass compensation, and an intuitive hands-on interface. This makes it an inspiring instrument for both newcomers to synthesis and seasoned musicians seeking depth and expressiveness. With its performance-ready design and versatile sound engine, Messenger seamlessly integrates into any studio, live performance setup, or modular rig. Synth collectors who value the Moog sound, brand, and legacy will also appreciate its craftsmanship and sonic capabilities.

An Icon That Inspires 
​For over six decades, Moog synthesizers have profoundly influenced music culture, shaping genres from progressive rock and jazz fusion to electronic dance music. Pioneering artists such as Wendy Carlos, whose 1968 album Switched-On Bach showcased the synthesizer’s versatility, and bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Kraftwerk, who integrated Moog’s distinctive sounds into their groundbreaking work, have cemented its legacy. ​ ​ 

The Moog Messenger continues this tradition of developing innovative musical tools for forward-thinking artists. It represents a significant evolution in Moog’s synthesizer lineage, blending the company’s rich heritage with new sonic possibilities and enhanced playability. Designed for both aspiring and professional musicians, producers, and sound designers, Messenger provides an accessible yet powerful tool for creative exploration. 

“With Messenger, we aim to honour Moog’s rich heritage while embracing the future of analog synthesis,” said Joe Richardson, Moog Music President and inMusic EVP, Chief Commercial Officer. “This instrument is crafted for musicians and producers seeking a portable, powerful monosynth that delivers the iconic Moog sound, enhanced with modern features and intuitive controls.” 

Key Features of Messenger: 

  • Timeless and Intuitive Design: Building upon the DNA of Moog’s iconic monosynths—such as the Minimoog Model D, Voyager, Grandmother, and Subsequent 37—Messenger introduces innovative circuits within a familiar format, delivering classic analog sound with modern enhancements. ​ 
  • Modern Wavefolding Oscillators: Two continuously variable-shape voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) with unique hybrid wavefolders, sync, and frequency modulation (FM) capabilities allow for rich harmonic textures and dynamic overtones. A sub-oscillator with a continuously variable waveshape further adds deep, powerful low-end. 
  • Next-Generation Ladder Filter with Resonance Bass Compensation: The legendary Moog transistor ladder filter has been reimagined with a unique pole-mixing design, offering 4-pole low-pass, 2-pole low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass responses. The resonance bass compensation (RES BASS) switch preserves low-end power at high resonance settings, ensuring full-bodied sound across the spectrum. The classic response is also available. 
  • Full-Size Keys with Expressive Control: Messenger features 32 semi-weighted full-size keys with velocity and aftertouch, providing a premium playing experience suitable for both performance and studio use. Its robust metal panel houses 256 presets, offering immediate access to a wide range of sounds and textures. 
  • Hands-On, Performance-Ready Layout: A knob-per-function control scheme ensures immediacy and ease of use, allowing musicians to shape sounds instantly without navigating complex menus. ​ 
  • Integrated Sequencer and Arpeggiator: A 64-step sequencer with probability-based generative behavior and parameter recording, along with a versatile arpeggiator offering multiple pattern modes and rhythmic programming, enable real-time composition and dynamic live performances. ​ 
  • Sound Design and Modulation Playground: Two loopable ADSR envelopes with velocity responsiveness and multi-trigger capabilities, along with two LFOs—one variable shape with sync and reset, and one triangle-wave tied to the modulation wheel—provide extensive modulation options for creative sound design. ​ 
  • Comprehensive Connectivity: Messenger integrates seamlessly into any setup with six analog control voltage (CV) patch points, an external audio input to the filter, expression and sustain pedal inputs, and MIDI In/Out via both 5-pin DIN and USB-C, ensuring compatibility with DAWs, modular systems, and other hardware synthesizers. ​ 
  • Compact, Powerful, and Accessible: Delivering the depth and sonic character of Moog’s legacy in a compact, performance-ready format, Messenger is Moog’s most accessible analog synthesizer to date, making it an indispensable tool for musicians and producers alike. 

“Messenger embodies our commitment to advancing analog synthesis while staying true to the Moog legacy and innovative spirit of Dr. Robert Moog,” said Erik Norlander, Director of Keyboard Product Development at inMusic. “Our goal was to create a synthesizer that invites immediate exploration—welcoming first-time Moog players and offering the depth and expressiveness that experienced musicians expect. With wavefolding oscillators, a dynamic shape sub-oscillator, a next-generation ladder filter, and comprehensive connectivity options, Messenger is as inspiring as it is accessible.” 

To kick off the campaign, Akai Professional released “Arrival of the Messenger,” a short film introducing the MPC Live III as a catalyst for connection and creativity, where waveforms carry hidden messages and sound becomes a shared experience. “Arrival of the Messenger” features original music by Michael Stein, created using the new Moog Messenger. 

To celebrate the launch, watch Lisa Bella Donna bring the new Moog Messenger to life in a dynamic analog performance—showcasing its depth, versatility, and next-gen take on the iconic Moog sound. 

Preset preview: Lisa Bella Donna showcases the depth and versatility of Moog Messenger’s built-in sounds. 

Availability and Pricing 
​The Moog Messenger is available at select retailers worldwide starting Monday, June 2 for $899 USD.

To learn more about Moog Messenger, please visit www.moogmusic.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @MoogSynthesizers on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and @MoogMusicInc on Facebook, and X. 

The post Moog Music announces Moog Messenger appeared first on Decoded Magazine.

Introducing…The History Of Rock: 1968!

With Pete Townshend announcing The Who’s farewell US tour, now seems a good time to remind ourselves of when the band made one of their earliest trips to the continent. You can read all about it in The History Of Rock: 1968, the latest in our series of premium magazines curated from the archives of NME and Melody Maker.

Pete in 1968 is a big fan of America. Amazing microphone systems. Great groups like Moby Grape. Their own bus, “equipped with all modern conveniences like scotch and beer”.  Even the fact that they’re staying in poky hotels hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm. As we follow the group deeper into the year we find them developing some challenging new work, the rock opera Tommy, at this stage provisionally entitled “Dead Dumb And Blind Boy”.

Our other favourite groups are changing too. After 1967’s colourful revelations and occasionally grandiose musical experimentation, 1968 has its feet more firmly planted on the ground. The gurus and the hallucinogens of the past twelve months have imparted their knowledge, and The Beatles are for the most part slightly more suspicious of whim and fancy.

No-one precisely says this is their plan (although Paul McCartney has been murmuring about “getting back” for a while), but there is a palpable swing away from the head trips of the studio and towards the heart: to early inspirations, live music. Later in the year, the double album released by the Beatles will contain strong flavours of blues and rock ‘n’ roll, the year’s two principal revivals. Does this now mean the Beatles are taking a step backwards? As Ringo Starr philosophically remarks: “It’s not forwards or backwards. It’s just a step.”

Bob Dylan also sets an anomalous tempo, established early in the year with the bucolic minimalism of John Wesley Harding. Dylan’s continued absence from the promotional scene allows him to move with a freedom not permitted his British contemporaries, and his absence creates a vacuum that myth, and under-the-counter recordings, step in to fill. Elsewhere in the mag you’ll find John Peel, Aretha Franklin, Cream…even George Best!

This is the world of The History Of Rock, a monthly magazine which reaps the benefits of their reporting for the reader decades later, one year at a time. Inside, you will find verbatim articles from frontline staffers, compiled into long and illuminating reads. You can catch up on any you’ve missed here. Enjoy!

The post Introducing…The History Of Rock: 1968! appeared first on UNCUT.

Fans Choose Sleep Token’s ‘Even in Arcadia’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Sleep Token‘s new album Even in Arcadia tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (May 9) on Billboard, choosing the cryptic English group’s latest LP — their first with major label RCA Records — as their favorite new music release of the past week.

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In a week brimming with fresh offerings, Sleep Token rose to the top; their 10-track collection brought in more than 61% of the vote. Voters chose Even in Arcadia over new releases from artists including ROSÉ, Kid Cudi, Miley Cyrus, Kali Uchis, Halsey & Amy Lee, PinkPantheress and Maren Morris.

Sleep Token built up to the May 9 release of Even in Arcadia with “Emergence,” which sprung to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and broke into the Hot 100, marking Sleep Token’s first entry on the all-genre chart. Two more Hot Hard Rock No. 1s followed suit: “Caramel” and “Damocles.” (On the May 10-dated Hot Hard Rock Songs ranking, “Damocles” sits at No. 1, “Caramel” at No. 2 and “Emergence” at No. 3.)

Though Even in Arcadia is Sleep Token’s fourth studio album, it’s the first to see a release through RCA.

“Before we could approach the rollout plans for Even In Arcadia, it was critical to me that everyone who would be tied to the project deeply understood and respected the profound and expansive world the band created to surround its artistry long before this record,” RCA vp of marketing Aaron Stern told Billboard in April. “Sleep Token set a best-in-class standard for how an artist can cultivate an audience of fans that sincerely immerse themselves in the music and surrounding visual identity.”

Among the new music trailing behind Even in Arcadia on this week’s poll are songs from ROSÉ (“Messy,” with 25% of the vote), Kid Cudi (“Neverland,” with 4% of the vote) and Miley Cyrus (“More to Lose,” with 3% of the vote).

See the final results of this week’s poll below.

Latin Music History: Spanish-Language Albums Are Nos. 1 & 2 for the First Time on Billboard 200 Chart

It’s a historic week for Latin music on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart. For the first time in the chart’s 69-year history, Spanish-language albums are Nos. 1 and 2 at the same time.

Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos returns to the top, jumping 7-1 on the May 17-dated chart after its vinyl release, while Fuerza Regida achieves its highest-charting album ever, as the band’s new 111XPANTIA debuts at No. 2.

Fuerza Regida also lays claim to the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, or a regional Mexican music album, ever.

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Bad Bunny’s ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 After Vinyl Release

Debí Tirar Más Fotos adds a fourth total week atop the list, as it previously spent three weeks at No. 1, consecutively, on the Jan. 25-Feb. 8-dated charts.

The Billboard 200 began publishing on a regular weekly basis in March 1956.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new May 17, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 13. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

In the tracking week ending May 8, Debí Tirar Más Fotos earned 84,500 equivalent album units in the United States — with album sales comprising 48,000 (essentially all vinyl purhases), according to Luminate. As for 111XPANTIA, it earned 76,000 units — and of that, 39,000 were album sales.

Let’s take a look at some of the major milestones achieved this week by the teaming of Bad Bunny and Fuerza Regida in the top two slots of the Billboard 200.

Bad Bunny’s ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 After Vinyl Release

Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, jumping 7-1 on the May 17-dated chart, following the set’s release on vinyl. It’s the fourth total week atop the list for the Spanish-language project, which spent three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Jan. 25-Feb. 8-dated charts. In the tracking week ending May 8, Debí Tirar Más Fotos earned 84,500 equivalent album units (up 123%) in the United States, with more than half of the sum driven by vinyl purchases, according to Luminate.

It’s a historic week for Latin music, as Fuerza Regida — Billboard’s year-end top duo/group in both 2024 and 2023 — achieves its first top 10-charting set on the Billboard 200 with the band’s 111XPANTIA bowing at No. 2. In turn, for the first time in the 69-year history of the all-genre chart, Spanish-language albums are Nos. 1 and 2 at the same time. Further, 111XPANTIA marks the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, and the highest-charting regional Mexican music album.

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Bad Bunny performs at the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert on Feb. 14, 2025 in New York City.

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Plus, rapper Key Glock notches his fourth top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 as Glockaveli premieres at No. 8.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new May 17, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 13. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ 84,500 equivalent album units earned in the week ending May 8, album sales — essentially all vinyl — comprise a little over 48,000 (up 15,099%, it reenters Top Album Sales for its first week at No. 1), SEA units comprise just over 36,000 (down 3%, equaling 50.27 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it falls 5-6 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise under 500 units (down 8%).

The album’s 48,000 sold marks the largest single-week sales for a Latin music album in nearly six years, since Santana’s Africa Speaks sold 57,000 copies in its first week (June 22, 2019-dated chart), driven by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer for the act’s then-upcoming tour. Such offers are no longer chart-eligible.

Debí Tirar Más Fotos surges back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after its vinyl shipments to customers impacted the tracking week — to the tune of nearly 48,000 copies. That’s the largest sales week for a Latin album on vinyl in the modern era (since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991). It surpasses the previous record, held by the opening week of Kali Uchis’ Orquídeas (20,000 sold across seven variants; on the Jan. 27, 2024-dated chart).

Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ lone vinyl edition — on blue-colored double-vinyl in a gatefold package — was sold exclusively via Bad Bunny’s official webstore for $29.98. It went up for pre-order in early February and was then (per the store) “estimated to ship on/around the end of April 2025.” The vinyl is currently sold out on the artist’s webstore, and it has not been announced if the vinyl will be restocked, or sold through any other seller. (The blue-colored vinyl is the only physical format on which the set has been released. It has yet to be issued on CD or any other physical format, and has only been available to purchase as a download.)

Since Debí Tirar Más Fotos debuted on the Jan. 18-dated Billboard 200 (at No. 2), it has yet to leave the top 10 after 18 weeks, with its chart fortunes largely fueled by continued strong streaming of its songs.

At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, Fuerza Regida debuts with its highest-charting album ever, and first top 10, as 111XPANTIA arrives with 76,000 equivalent album units earned — the band’s best week ever by units.

The set also becomes the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group (surpassing the No. 4 peak of Maná’s Amar Es Combatir in 2006), and for a regional Mexican music album (higher than the No. 3 peak of Peso Pluma’s Génesis in 2023).

111XPANTIA also earns the largest week, by units, for any Spanish-language album by a duo or group, and by a regional Mexican album, since the chart began ranking by units in December 2014. The previous high, in that span of time, for a Spanish language album by a duo or group was Santana’s Africa Speaks (57,000 in its opening week, in 2019), while the previous high for a regional Mexican title was Génesis (73,000 in its debut frame in 2023).

Of the 76,000 units earned by 111XPANTIA in its opening week, album sales comprise 39,000 (the band’s best sales week ever, and the biggest sales week for a regional Mexican album in the modern era; it debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 37,000 (equaling 50.44 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 5 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum.

With 39,000 copies sold, 111XPANTIA surpasses the previous largest sales week for a regional Mexican title, when Selena’s Amor Prohibido sold 36,000 copies on the chart dated May 6, 1995, in the wake of her death in March of that year.

111XPANTIA was released on May 2 as a 12-song standard album, widely available as a digital download for purchase and via streaming services. On May 5, a deluxe edition of the set, with three bonus tracks, was issued via download services and streamers. The band’s official webstore carried the only physical format editions of the album: the 12-song version on four color vinyl variants, a standard CD, a signed CD (by the group’s lead singer, Jesús Ortíz Paz) and four deluxe boxed sets (two containing a branded T-shirt and a signed CD, two with a branded hat and a signed CD).

The new album was preceded by its hit single “Por Esos Ojos,” which reached No. 5 on Hot Latin Songs (March 1 chart), No. 3 on Hot Regional Mexican Songs (May 10), No. 5 on Latin Streaming Songs (March 1) and No. 79 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (March 15).

111XPANTIA is the sixth charting effort on the Billboard 200 for Fuerza Regida, and the third to reach the top 40 (after PERO NO TE ENAMORES, No. 25 in 2024; and Pa las Baby’s y Belikeada, No. 14 in 2023). The group’s success has also extended to the Hot 100, where the act charted 13 song entries before the new album dropped.

Prior to the new album’s release, the group also logged eight top 10s (with one No. 1) on the Top Latin Albums chart, and 10 top 10s (with five No. 1s) on the Regional Mexican Albums chart.

Fuerza Regida’s success on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 over the past few years has been so significant that the act finished 2024 as the top duo/group artist of the year — among all genres — for the second year in a row. In 2023, the act made history when it became the year’s top duo/group — the first time an act that primarily records in Spanish had ever achieved the feat.

(Latin and regional Mexican albums are defined as those that are eligible for, or have charted on, Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Top Regional Mexican Albums charts, respectively.)

Nos. 2-7 on the latest Billboard 200 are all former chart-toppers. SZA’s SOS slips 2-3 (52,000 equivalent album units, though up 1%), Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 4 (46,000; down less than 1%), Kendrick Lamar’s GNX dips 3-5 (45,000; down 7%), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet falls 5-6 (41,000; down 6%) and PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U descends 6-7 (40,000; down 7%).

Key Glock lands his fourth top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200 at Glockaveli debuts at No. 8 with 34,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 28,000 (equaling 37.28 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 12 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 6,000 (it enters at No. 9 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum.

Glockaveli was released on May 2 as a standard 18-song album, widely available as a digital download to purchase and via streaming services. The standard set was also available on CD (both signed and unsigned), vinyl (standard, color vinyl and signed color vinyl) and a deluxe boxed set containing a branded T-shirt and a CD. A deluxe edition of the album, with three bonus tracks, dropped mid-week — first via the artist’s webstore on May 4, and then wide the following day to general download services and streamers.

Rounding out the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200 are Morgan Wallen’s former leader Dangerous: The Double Album (rising 10-9 with 33,500 equivalent album units; up 1%) and Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going (falling 8-10 with 32,000; down 8%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

John Legend Says He’s Shocked by Ye’s ‘Descent’ Into ‘Antisemitism’ and ‘Anti-Blackness’

John Legend is opening up the “descent” of his former friend Ye.

In a new interview with The Times, published on Saturday (May 10), the 46-year-old R&B singer expressed shock over the dramatic changes in Ye (formerly Kanye West) after their close personal and professional bond in the early 2000s.

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“Back then Kanye was very passionate, very gifted, and he had big dreams not only for himself but also for all the people around him,” Legend said, reflecting on how West helped launch his career after collaborating on the rapper’s 2004 album, The College Dropout. “He had so much optimism, so much creativity. It does feel sad, sometimes shocking, to see where he is now.”

The EGOT winner signed with West’s G.O.O.D. Music after releasing a pair of self-produced albums early in his career. The two artists collaborated on numerous projects over the years, but their friendship began to fray after West, 47, voiced support for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Their relationship ultimately ended in the aftermath of West’s unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid.

“I didn’t see a hint of what we’re seeing now, his obsessions with antisemitism, anti-blackness, and it is sad to see his devolution,” Legend told The Times.

Ye has faced backlash in recent months for his hate-filled, antisemitic rants on social media. The rapper has also expressed support for Diddy, who is currently on trial for sex trafficking charges.

Legend admits he’s not qualified to “psychoanalyze” West, but offers a guess as to why the embattled rapper has changed so much in recent years.

“After his mother passed in 2007 there was definitely a difference,” the singer said. “His descent started then and seems to have accelerated recently.”

West’s mother, Donda, died of a heart attack at age 58 in 2007 following complications from multiple cosmetic procedures. After her death, the rapper released two albums bearing her name: Donda (2021), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and Donda 2 (2022), which was initially available exclusively on the Stem Player before being released on streaming services in late April.

Elsewhere in The Times interview, Legend reflected on West’s undeniable impact in launching his career.

“Kanye blew up after producing Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint in 2001,” he said. “Then he experienced a buzz as a solo artist and the whole time I was traveling with him, doing shows with him, getting exposure not only as his singer and keyboard player but also as an artist myself. I had been turned down by labels everywhere. Then The College Dropout sold 400,000 copies in its first week, everyone wanted to know what was happening in our camp.”

The singer added, “All those people who turned me down suddenly decided that my music sounded a lot better than it did the first time round.”